Yolanda death toll reaches 5,759

MANILA, Philippines - The official death toll from Typhoon Yolanda inched up to 5,759 yesterday.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Coordinating Council (NDRRMC) said 26,233 people were injured and 1,779 remain missing.

The official count is a lot slower than that on the ground, which rises daily with the recovery of more bodies, especially in Leyte.

Chat Ortega, Tanauan, Leyte, local government operations officer, told The STAR dead bodies are being recovered daily in the town alone, and that   more bodies are being recovered under piles of   debris that have yet to be cleared.

"What we have here are close to 2,000 bodies with only around 600 identified," she said.

"And we are still recovering bodies daily. We don't know if they are from Tanauan or from other towns."

During a relief mission of the Italian government, members of  non-government organizations based in Tacloban City said last Tuesday's clearing operation in barangay San Roque led to the recovery of hundreds of bodies.

The NDRRMC said Yolanda had affected 2,379,399 families or 11,240,227 individuals from 12,095 barangays in the Visayas.

Of this number, 873,061 families or 4,008,503 individuals were displaced. 

Estimated damage to infrastructure and agriculture has been placed at P35.2 billion as of yesterday.

NDRRMC executive director Eduardo del Rosario said he will resign if proven that he is withholding the   actual casualty figures.

"I am willing to resign as the executive director of the council and administrator of the Office of Civil Defense," he said.

"I am saying this to show my sincerity and the truthfulness of the NDRRMC's casualty report."

Gazmin: Critics are misinformed

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin belied yesterday allegations that he was not visible in the aftermath of Yolanda.

Speaking at a gift-giving activity for wounded soldiers at the Armed Forces Medical Center in Quezon City, Gazmin said his critics are misinformed.

"They say that I was not there, but I think their gauge of presence is when you face the media," he said. "You know that I am not fond of facing the media but I give the directions."

Gazmin was asked to react to calls for him to resign due to the supposed slow and inefficient government response to Yolanda.

Among those who asked Gazmin to step down was OFW Family Club Rep. Roy Señeres, who blamed the government's supposed failure to issue timely warnings for the massive loss of lives and property.       –  With Alexis Romero